The Forest Arts Centre is the creative heart of New Milton. This wonderful live performance venue is home to a 140-seat theatre, art gallery, dance studio, art studio and a fully licensed café bar.
We offer the very best in music, theatre and comedy as well as a range of classes and workshops for children and adults of all ages and abilities.
How to book
- Most of our events can be booked online
- We accept most credit and debit cards online and cash and cheques at our box office
- Unfortunately we can't accept unpaid reservations, please have your ticket with you to enter a performance or screening.
- Concession prices are available to customers over 60 years of age.
Concessions for classes and workshops
We offer concessions for some of our classes and workshops.
How to find us
By car
We’re located on the junction of Old Milton Road and the A337 Christchurch Road in New Milton.
By train
We are a 20 minute walk (via Station Road and Old Milton Road) from New Milton railway station and taxi rank.
Car parking onsite
We have limited free parking on-site which is accessed from Old Milton Road.
The car park is managed by a member company of the British Parking Association (BPA) with a camera-based system with registration plate recognition. We believe that this will provide the best and most effective service for visitors of our venue and users of the building.
Use of the Forest Arts Centre Car Park is free for all legitimate venue visitors and users of the building. These include live show ticketholders, tutors and participants of classes and workshops, and visitors attending our other activities or those offered by hirers of our rooms and services. Free parking is also available to artists performing or exhibiting at the Forest Arts Centre.
All legitimate visitors (including those waiting for visitors) must obtain a parking permit by registering on the touch screen tablet at the Forest Arts Centre Box Office desk. This must be done before leaving the car park and on each visit. Legitimate visitors can also register by scanning a QR code with their mobile device once in the building. These codes are available upon request at the Box Office desk and within the bar area.
Accessibility
We welcome disabled visitors. There is level access to the theatre, bar, gallery and workshop areas. We can arrange spaces for wheelchair users who wish to come to the theatre independently, and there are free seats available for a companion at seated events. We also have an accessible lavatory, two disabled parking pays, automatic doors and an induction loop at the box office and in the theatre. Assistance dogs are welcome, as long as they are clearly identifiable, and we have some subtitled performances.
Please note that our seats are 40cm in width and height with variable leg room and no armrests. Please contact our box office to discuss any accessibility requirements either via email forest.arts@hampshireculturaltrust.org.uk or on 01425 612393
Child Protection Policy
Our policy outlines the procedures we have in place to protect your children when they are using our venue. For more information, please read our safeguarding policy.